Shoe-stretcher.



A. E. BLOCK.

SHOE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1911.

1,205,507 Patented Nov. 21 1916.

ALEXANDER E. BLOCK, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

' SHOE-STRE'IGHER.

Application filed May 27, 1911.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER E. BLOCK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of St. Louis, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification containing a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in shoe stretchers, and has for its object to provide means for administering pressure for stretching purposes to any desired point in the vamp of a shoe; also providing means for applying moisture to the center of the portion of the vamp and lining desired to be stretched.

In the drawings-Figure 1 is a side elevation embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical view in mid-section of the male and female members employed in my stretching device, and their attachments.

In the form of my invention illustrated in the drawings I employ a yoke, or frame, 3, one extremity of which is provided with an inwardly projecting pin a. Over the end of the pin 4 the moisture pad 5 is mounted, being held in place upon the pin 4 by means of the sleeve 6; the sleeve 6 being furnished in various external diameters with each appliance to adapt the appliance to the character and thickness of the leather and lining desired to be stretched. The structure last described, comprising the pin 4, the moisture pad 5 and the sleeve 6 constitutes the male mem- 1 her of my stretching apparatus. In the opposing extremity of the yoke 3 I. provide a plunger or carrier-screw 7, which is screw threaded through the bearing 8 and the yoke 3. Upon the inner end of said screw ,7 the female member 9, provided with the depression 10, is loosely mounted, as indicated by the numeral 11. The object of such loose mounting is to permit the female member 9 to adjust itself to the contour of the combined thickness of leather and lining which it is adapted to force over and around the sleeve 6,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916. Serial No. 629,839.

The operation of my device is as follows: The moisture pad 5 being moistened, is placed in position over the pin 4 and secured in place thereon by the sleeve 6. When so secured, only that portion of the moisture pad 5 can come in contact with the surface to be stretched which is upon the inner face of the pin 4. The screw 7 being revolved to carry the female member 9 away from the sleeve 6, one arm of the yoke 3 is inserted in the shoe to bring the moisture pad 5 into the position of the center of the portion of the vamp and lining which is desired to be stretched. The screw 7 is then revolved to force the female member 9 inwardly, being revolved by means of the thumb screw 12. The appliance being thus adjusted is permitted to remain in place upon the shoe for such time as may be necessary to effect the desired stretching, when it is released by the operation of the screw 8, and the appliance is removed from the shoe.

Having thus described my invention, I c1aim 1. In a shoe-stretcher,the combination of.

a female stretching member; a male stretching member; a moisture pad carried by said male stretching member;' and means for bringing said stretching members into operative contact with the substance to be stretched.

2. In a shoe stretcher, a frame; a male member carried by the frame and comprising a pin, a moisture pad carried thereby and a sleeve surrounding said pad; and a female member so connected to the frame as to be capable of movement with reference loo ried by said male stretching member; a In testimony whereof, I have signed my sleeve arranged to secure said pad in place name to this specification, in presence of upon said male stretching member; a pluntwo subscribing Witnesses.

ger mounted through the opposite terminus ALEXANDER E. BLOCK.

of said yoke; a female stretching member Witnesses: mounted upon the inner end of said plun- N. E. BROGKMAN, ger; and means for operating said plunger. J. R. FRAME.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, i

Washington D. 0. 

